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2017 TLAB SCHOLAR

Congratulations to 2017 TLab Scholar Emily Robinson of Druid Hills High School who will study at the University of Oxford.

2017 SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to the 2017 ESU Atlanta Branch Shakespeare Winner, Marilyn Moore, from DeKalb School of the Arts and her teacher, Candace Lambert. We are proud of Marilyn's performance in the national competition as she was a semi-finalist.

Branch Newsletter

2016 BUSS Scholar

Our 2016 British University Summer School Scholar, Amber Leazenbee, just returned from 3 weeks of study at Oxford University. Amber is an AP English Literature and English Language teacher at Parkview High School. Here are some excerpts from a message she sent to our Branch:

"My experience at Oxford was simply wonderful, and it is quite difficult to articulate what a meaningful and life-changing experience it was. I feel like having to study and write papers again was a useful exercise for me as a teacher as I can now better relate to what my students go through. The things that I was able to learn and see firsthand will have a lasting impact on my teaching. I have only been back at school for one week, and every day, I have been able to share something new with them from this experience. I am so very grateful to the ESU for this experience."

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News And Events

October 2016 Member Meeting

News

A member of our Branch, Dr. Sally Parsonson, presented us with a visual and verbal account of how Wordsworth's poems referenced the scenic world around him. We learned that William Wordsworth wrote several travel guides of the Lake District, and needless to say, Grasmere was a favorite.

His poems reflected his life and the memories he had of his childhood near the Derwent River in the Lake District. His passages consisted of recollections of his youth and experiences with nature – the lakes, rivers, streams, animals and plants.

September Member Meeting

News

Gordon Mathis, former principal at the Galloway Upper School, gave an interesting presentation on the origin of the King James Version of the Bible. We welcomed his expertise on the subject which was based on the book, "God's Secretaries." King James, assigned a committee of 47 Anglicans who were given the task of developing an authorized version. It took about 7 years to gather the many versions of the Bible at the time and compile them all into what was the third English translation that we revere as the official King James Version. It was a fascinating account of the evolution of a version of the book that is still used to this day. This was a perfect topic for the English-Speaking Union.

Annual Garden Party

Event Recap

This year's Garden Party on May 25 was to celebrate the special occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday. The British Consul General, Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford, kindly allowed us to have our event in his beautiful home. Our Branch Chairman, Wesley Devoto, OBE, toasted the Queen and the Consul General, in turn, offered a toast to the President of the United States.

Annual General Meeting

Event Recap

Our April 28 meeting was particularly significant as our President, Jean Morris, was stepping down to be succeeded by incoming president, Don Pattillo. Our guest speaker, our own Betsi McLure, gave a talk on the real goings on with the Royal Family, and we elected new officers and directors for the coming year. Jean ended her much-appreciated two-year position as our President with heartfelt thanks to all those who helped her to achieve the goals of the organization, offer exciting and interesting programs and support for the upcoming changes for the ESU on the national level. Thank you, Jean, for all your hard work and dedication.

Interns at New American Shakespeare Tavern

l to r: Katherine Carey, Abbe Fralix, Lydia Flock

The Grants/Sholarship Committee shared a lunch with Laura Coles and the Interns which the Atlanta Branch has provided for The New American Shakespeare Tavern. Note the names are below the picture. It was a pleasant day and once again the ESU, Atlanta Branch, has been generous.